Thursday, March 14, 2024

What Is Probiotic Pills Good For

Survivability: Does Your Supplement Survive Stomach Acid

Nutrition & Vitamins : What Is a Probiotic Diet?

Even ahead of the ingredients, this is probably the most important factor in whether or not a probiotic works.

Anytime you take a probiotic, it has to make a very difficult journey throughout your digestive tract o get o our intestines where they can do some good.

The biggest culprit in destroying probiotics is stomach acid.

And if your probiotics cant survive stomach acid, theyll be dead long before they can start improving your health.

Now, as for what technology companies use to increase the survivability, there are a few options out there.

Some use enteric coated pills, special capsules and even patented systems like Bio-tract .

All of these work in different ways and vary in effectiveness.

As mentioned above, one system, called Bio-tract is actually patented and has had some studies done on it.

It works by forming a protective barrier around the tablet as soon as it gets wet .

You can actually drop one of these special tablets into a glass of water and see the barrier start to form!

This technology isnt the only way to deliver probiotics successfully into the intestines, but its one of the best weve come across.

Is It Ok To Take Probiotics Every Day

A common question about probiotics is whether it is ok to take probiotic supplements every day. Whilst there may be a few exceptions to this rule, the general answer is yes, it’s safe, and usually recommended, to take them daily.

It’s important to understand that probiotics are a natural supplement and not a medicine. They are best used at breakfast time as part of a daily health regime, rather than as a ‘quick fix’ option. There are also some situations where certain strains can be taken for a short time, such as alongside antibiotics. Fermented foods containing live cultures have been part of traditional diets in many different ethnic groups for centuries. Learn more by reading about our 5 favourite fermented foods. People have been consuming probiotics for generations in foods such as sauerkraut, kimchi, kefir and kombucha , but it has only been more recently that we have been able to consume specific strains for specific purposes, in easy-to-take capsules, powders, or kids’ gummies.

Are Probiotics Safe For Kids Heres What You Need To Know

You may have passed them in the health food aisle at your local grocery store or seen a reference to them in your favorite healthy living blog probiotics.

Many adults use these supplements to help regulate their digestive systems. Some claim that probiotics can help with conditions like eczema and even yeast infections.

But probiotics dont always work the same for children.

Probiotics are useful for keeping your digestive tract healthy, says Dr. Joy Drass, pediatrician at Geisinger Port Matilda. But its important to know which probiotics you can give to your child, since they may not work the same way they do in adults.

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Signs Your Probiotics Aren’t Working Is It Time To Switch

You’re using probiotics to fix your digestive issues. Should you stop using them or switch to another option if your existing probiotics don’t generate any improvement after a few days?

Probiotics and multivitamins may take some time before they start showing any benefits. Several factors may affect the performance of these health boosters. Probiotics and vitamins follow similar timelines for effectiveness. For more information on how long vitamins take to work, read here.

Some signs help you determine whether it’s time to switch your probiotics:

  • You don’t experience any change in your symptoms of poor gut health after four weeks
  • You start experiencing side effects including gas, bloating, and headaches

In some cases, you may experience beneficial side effects of using probiotics. They’re signs your body is adapting to the probiotics you’re using.

These side effects may include flatulence, mild bloating, and more frequent bowel movements. It’s a sign that your body is removing unhealthy bacteria.

These side effects may last for almost a week. If they don’t disappear after a full week has passed, you should quit taking the supplements and consult a doctor.

So Which One Should You Choose

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If youre still wondering which one is better: kombucha vs probiotics, and which one you should choose, the easiest answer is: why not both?

You might not always be in the mood for kombucha. In that case, a good quality, quick, and easy-to-take probiotic supplement is a great choice. Or you might want to get a little more boost to your gut flora. Then why not wash your supplement down with some kombucha?

When it comes to natural health and keeping our bodies healthy and in balance, it doesnt always have to be a contest. Natural options like kombucha or even kefir or yogurt for breakfast are beneficial, but when things are too busy for breakfast, grab a toast and supplement on your way out of the door and keep the health benefits going.

Natural products like kombucha are always a great choice because theyre not overly processed, are easy to digest, and taste great. But if you cant or dont want to drink this kind of beverage every day, its perfectly okay to supplement with a supplement! If you are looking to try some delicious kombucha, check out Brew Dr. Apart from refreshing flavors, they offer tons of recipes for cocktails, mocktails, and even smoothie bowls and salad dressings.

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What Are Prebiotics And How Do They Work

Prebiotics are considered by some to be non-digestible carbohydrates, that are not digested by the body but nourish the micro-organisms in the colon. They occur naturally in the diet and are found in foods such as garlic, bananas, oats, onions and leeks. This idea has been criticised by some due to its poor definition and some scientists prefer to use the term ‘microbiota accessible carbohydrates’, as they are fermentable dietary fibre that the microbes can use. However, foods containing prebiotics are also the components of a healthy diet and should therefore be consumed regularly.

Probiotics May Help Boost Your Immune System

Probiotics may help give your immune system a boost and inhibit the growth of harmful gut bacteria .

Also, some probiotics have been shown to promote the production of natural antibodies in the body. They may also boost immune cells like the IgA-producing cells, T lymphocytes and natural killer cells (

Bottom Line:

Certain probiotics may help you lose weight and belly fat. However, other strains have been linked to weight gain.

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Which Probiotics Benefit Your Health The Most

Similar to what we just talked about, this is obviously the most important characteristic that all good probiotics share.

Good probiotics just tend to work, and work well in most people.

The list of health issues probiotics seem to help with is enormous.

Everything from gas, indigestion and constipation all the way to energy and the immune system.

If you talk to people, many credit probiotics with aiding in quite a few health concerns.

So when youre trying to find the best probiotics, this is the most important consideration.

You want maximum health benefit in the area youre looking to improve. Its as simple as that.

They Can Affect Emotional Health Too*

Best Probiotic Supplements – (what are probiotics & which one should you take)

Probiotics seem to reduce the body’s stress response and positively affect cognitive function, several studies have found.* How? The mechanisms are complex, but good bacteria in the gut are capable of producing mood-stabilizing neurotransmitters, like serotonin and dopamine.* And because these bugs have a direct link to the central nervous system, via a pathway called the vagus nerve, they play a key role in regulating mood.*

And that can have real effects: In one study, when women were shown pictures of angry faces, those who ate probiotic yogurt twice a day for four weeks before seeing the pictures felt calmer compared to those women who didn’t eat the yogurt.

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Natures Bounty Ultra Probiotic 10

The ubiquitous and trusted Natures Bounty brand delivers when it comes to probiotics. Their Probiotic 10 supplement contains 20 billion colony forming units and, as the name suggests, ten different strains of bacteria.

The capsules are vegetarian, and there arent any extraneous ingredients included either, so this ones a very solid choice.

How Do Probiotics Work

The main job of probiotics, or good bacteria, is to maintain a healthy balance in your body. Think of it as keeping your body in neutral. When you are sick, bad bacteria enters your body and increases in number. This knocks your body out of balance. Good bacteria works to fight off the bad bacteria and restore the balance within your body, making you feel better.

Good bacteria keeps you healthy by supporting your immune function and controlling inflammation. Certain types of good bacteria can also:

  • Help your body digest food.
  • Keep bad bacteria from getting out of control and making you sick.
  • Create vitamins.
  • Help support the cells that line your gut to prevent bad bacteria that you may have consumed from entering your blood.
  • Breakdown and absorb medications.

This balancing act is naturally happening in your body all of the time. You dont actually need to take probiotic supplements to make it happen. Good bacteria is just a natural part of your body. Eating a well-balanced diet rich in fiber every day helps to keep the number of good bacteria at proper levels.

Read Also: Best Probiotic Supplement Whole Foods

Certain Probiotic Strains Can Help Keep Your Heart Healthy

Probiotics may help keep your heart healthy by lowering LDL cholesterol and blood pressure.

Certain lactic acid-producing bacteria may reduce cholesterol by breaking down bile in the gut .

Bile, a naturally occurring fluid mostly made of cholesterol, helps digestion.

A review of 5 studies found that eating a probiotic yogurt for 28 weeks reduced total cholesterol by 4% and LDL cholesterol by 5% .

Another study conducted over 6 months found no changes in total or LDL cholesterol. However, the researchers did find a small increase in HDL cholesterol .

Consuming probiotics may also lower blood pressure. A review of 9 studies found that probiotic supplements reduce blood pressure, but only modestly .

In order to experience any benefits related to blood pressure, supplementation had to exceed 8 weeks and 10 million colony-forming units daily .

Bottom Line:

Probiotics may help protect the heart by reducing bad LDL cholesterol levels and modestly lowering blood pressure.

Probiotics Are Good Bacteria

50 Billion CFU Prebiotic &  Probiotic Supplement for Women ...

Your body is home to billions of organisms like bacteria, fungi and yeasts. Most of these organisms are harmless and many help your body work properly they form whats called the human microbiome.

Probiotics are some of the helpful good bacteria that make up your microbiome, explains Dr. Drass. They come in supplement form, but they also occur naturally in certain foods.

These fermented and aged foods are packed with probiotics:

Yogurt

Your kids likely get most of their probiotic intake from yogurt.

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Irritable Or Inflammatory Bowel

review concluded that a multi-strain probiotic might improve IBS symptoms. The researchers called for further investigations into whether strains of Akkermansia, Bacteroides, and Faecalibacterium bacteria could play a role in future therapies.

A different 2019 found that probiotics did not consistently support the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, except possibly for one type of the disease: ulcerative colitis.

Is It Best To Take Probiotics And Prebiotics As Foods Supplements Or Drinks

If you are thinking about taking a probiotic or prebiotic and are unsure where to start or what to take, ask for help from a specialist. There are so many products available on the market it can be difficult to decide which to choose. The evidence is very much linked to the supplement so whether its a powder, tablet or drink youre looking for, choosing the right one should depend on the symptoms youre experiencing.

Speak to your GP if you’re experiencing symptoms or if you’re considering starting a supplement.

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How To Get Started With Probiotics

Think you want to give probiotics a shot? Here are Dr. Crescis take-aways to help you navigate them:

Probiotics are generally recognized as safe, but theyre typically not recommended if you have a compromised immune system. Ask your physician if probiotics are right for you.

It may take some trial and error to find the probiotic that works for you. If you notice no benefits from one product after a few weeks, try a different one with a different strain of bacteria.

Probiotics may cause bloating and gas, as well as changes in your stool patterns all indications that the product is working, Dr. Cresci says.

Prebiotic foods help your good bacteria flourish. Include beans, asparagus, onions, green bananas and other fermentable fiber sources in your diet.

This article originally appeared in Cleveland Clinic Mens Health Advisor.

Is Garlic Good For Probiotics

Probiotic Benefits – What Are Probiotics – Probiotic Supplements

Garlic was found to increase the growth of L in the study. The most effective concentration of 4% for acidophilus bacteria is 0, which is the lowest concentration. 05). It is possible to increase the growth of L. by increasing the fructooligosaccharide content in garlic. The probiotic bacterium acidophilus is beneficial to the health of the body.

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What Do They Do

Among other things, probiotics help send food through your gut by affecting nerves that control gut movement. Researchers are still trying to figure out which are best for certain health problems. Some common conditions they treat are:

  • Irritable bowel syndrome
  • Infectious diarrhea
  • Diarrhea caused by antibiotics

There is also some research that shows they’re useful for problems in other parts of your body. For example, some people say they have helped with:

  • Skin conditions, like eczema
  • Oral health

Probiotic Foods Or Probiotic Supplements: Which Is The Best Way To Get Probiotics

Probiotics can be consumed through fermented food, such as yogurt kefir aged cheeses, like Parmesan or aged cheddar kimchi sauerkraut miso tempeh, and non-dairy yogurts that indicate they are cultured.

While there is no recommended daily amount for probiotics, if these arent foods you typically eat, it may be a good idea to consider a dietary supplement. Omni-Biotic offers a range of probiotic supplements for different conditions, and you can take our Probiotic Fit Quiz to find the best product for you.

Probiotic supplements contain different strains of live organisms which are often used for different conditions, so its important to research what combination of strains may be best for your needs and maybe talk to your doctor or dietitian first.

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Probiotics And Gut Health

The best case for probiotic therapy has been in the treatment of diarrhea. Controlled trials have shown that Lactobacillus GG can shorten the course of infectious diarrhea in infants and children . Although studies are limited and data are inconsistent, two large reviews, taken together, suggest that probiotics reduce antibiotic-associated diarrhea by 60%, when compared with a placebo.

More common than diarrhea is the opposite problem constipation. In a search for studies on the benefits of probiotics in treating constipation, researchers found that probiotics slowed “gut transit time” by 12.4 hours, increases the number of weekly bowel movements by 1.3, and helped to soften stools, making them easier to pass. But the jury is still out on specific recommendations when it comes to the benefits of

Probiotic therapy may also help people with Crohn’s disease and irritable bowel syndrome. Clinical trial results are mixed, but several small studies suggest that certain probiotics may help maintain remission of ulcerative colitis and prevent relapse of Crohn’s disease and the recurrence of pouchitis . Because these disorders are so frustrating to treat, many people are giving probiotics a try before all the evidence is in for the particular strains they’re using. More research is needed to find out which strains work best for what conditions.

May Improve Symptoms Of Certain Gastrointestinal Diseases

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Some of the most well-studied uses of probiotic supplements relate to the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases like irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease .

One review of 11 studies found that 7 of them reported that probiotic supplementation significantly improved symptoms like bloating and abdominal pain in IBS patients, compared with a placebo, while the remaining 4 studies did not find significant improvements.

The review also found that multi-strain probiotics used for at least 8 weeks seemed to be most effective at improving IBS symptoms .

Notably, Lactobacillus acidophilus was present in all of the multi-strain supplement studies that reported significantly improved symptoms .

Multi-strain probiotics may improve some symptoms in those with IBD, though they appear to be less effective for people with Crohns disease.

Evidence is currently limited, and well-designed studies are needed (

34 ).

While some people, including those with IBS and certain types of IBD, may benefit from specific strains of probiotics, in general, most healthy people who follow a nutritious diet and healthy lifestyle do not need to supplement with probiotics.

Plus, some researchers are concerned that the widespread use of probiotics may lead to antibiotic resistance and warn that many studies investigating the safety and efficacy of probiotics are of poor quality .

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The Best Way To Benefit From Probiotics

You can get probiotics from a variety of foods or supplements.

If you want to buy a probiotic supplement, then there is an with thousands of customer reviews.

Live probiotic cultures are often found in fermented dairy products such as yogurts and milk drinks. Fermented foods like pickled vegetables, tempeh, miso, kefir, kimchi, sauerkraut and soy products may also contain some lactic acid bacteria.

You can also take probiotics as tablets, capsules and powders that contain the bacteria in dried form.

However, be aware that some probiotics can be destroyed by stomach acid before they even reach the gut meaning that you get none of the intended benefits.

If you want to experience any of the health benefits discussed above, its important that you consume adequate amounts.

Most of the studies showing benefits used dosages of 1 billion to 100 billion live organisms or colony-forming units per day.

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